It was Easter morning in the forest. Sunshine peeked through the trees, and dew sparkled on the grass. Baby Bigfoot stepped into the clearing, carrying a small basket that Mama Willow had woven for him from twigs and vines. Honey Bees buzzed all around him, drawn to the wildflowers that lined the rim.

For days, B.B. had been preparing for the big Easter egg hunt with Papa Thorne. Thorne taught B.B. that big feet can ALSO BE gentle feet… moving slowly and carefully through the fields, making sure not to crush any daffodils or step on the “pretend eggs,” which were actually rocks they were using for practice.

B.B. learned all about Easter from Miss Emily, a kind human from the “Big White Building” where all the cars go on Sundays. She said Easter is when we remember that Jesus died for us and came back to life. It’s a happy time to celebrate new life and the start of spring in the forest. 

Miss Emily also said that after church, another fuzzy, furry creature called the Easter Bunny hides colorful eggs for all the kids to find, each with a little surprise inside! Just like B.B., the Easter Bunny is a special, magical creature who loves to bring joy.

B.B. wanted to arrive early for one more practice, so he took off toward the town of New Bethlehem, a fitting place for an Easter celebration. But before he reached the edge of the forest, two fuzzy blurs zoomed past, leaving behind petals and giggles. It was Bink and Bonk, the Hoppy Twins! They were two silly bunnies known for their tricks and games. The twins circled back around when they realized they passed B.B. and invited him to a “hunt before the hunt!” It was The Hoppy Twins’ Ultimate Easter Egg Challenge! All his forest friends would be there—Sampson the mouse, Pip the fox, Sherman the squirrel, Hazel the deer, and Tilly the bird.  

The twins had hidden five shiny eggs all around the forest. Whoever found the most and brought them back to the starting point would win The Golden Carrot! B.B. thought that would look nice next to his Golden Snowflake trophy from the dance at Winterfest!

B.B. heard an acorn pop and the race was on! Everyone scurried, hopped, and flew through the trees. But B.B., however, had practiced so hard being careful that he quickly fell behind. While his friends dashed ahead, B.B. took slow, steady steps, making sure not to miss a clue.

Bink and Bonk ran ahead, playing sneaky tricks on everyone. They left fake trails with colorful pebbles, hid painted mushrooms that looked like eggs, stretched sticky spider webs across the path to slow everyone down, and tangled vines to trip up anyone who wasn’t paying attention!

The first egg was hidden inside a hollow log at the base of a tall oak tree. Sampson the mouse found it first, but the egg was too big for him to carry. Hazel the deer, who had accidentally picked up one of the fake mushroom eggs, noticed Sampson was having trouble and kindly helped by picking it up with her muzzle and carry it for him.

The second egg was hidden in a hole near a thicket. Pip the fox, as quick as a lightning bolt, zipped through the trees, dodging the vine traps, and grabbed it first.

Sherman the squirrel got back on track after falling for one of the fake pebble paths the Hoppy Twins had set up. He spotted the third egg hidden behind a big pile of pinecones next to the berry bushes.

The fourth egg was high in a bird’s nest. No problem for Tilly, who fluttered up, then swooped down with the egg safe in her claws.

B.B. was starting to feel a little disappointed. He wasn’t as fast as his friends, and he definitely couldn’t fly. But he didn’t give up. He kept looking, slooooow and steady, and then… there it was—the last egg!

It was floating on a lily pad in the middle of the stream. His friends saw it too and quickly gathered at the bank, but none of them could reach it. Sampson was too small, Hazel’s hooves slipped on the stones, Pip and Sherman couldn’t swim, and Tilly couldn’t carry two eggs. 

B.B. knew this was his chance. He remembered everything Papa Thorne had taught him, and all the things his friends had shown him too—he was sharp like a fox, graceful like a deer, light like a bird, quick like a mouse, and sure-footed like a squirrel! Slowly and carefully, B.B. stepped from stone to stone, his big feet barely making a ripple in the water. When he reached the lily pad, he gently picked up the egg with his big hands. He spun around and, with his friends cheering, made his way back to the bank without getting a single drop of water on his fur!

Hearing the commotion, Bink and Bonk appeared, holding the shiny Golden Carrot Trophy. But since nobody had really won, they scratched their heads, not sure what to do with it. The friends looked at each other and laughed. They realized it didn’t matter who won—it was all about having fun together. 

Just then, a church bell rang in the distance, echoing through the trees. The friends knew the real Easter egg hunt in New Bethlehem was about to start. Excited, they began walking toward town, taking turns with the golden carrot, ready to join the celebration. Bink and Bonk hopped along too—they couldn’t wait to visit their Uncle Easter Bunny!